Aerosol sprayer with a replaceable cartridge



1956 J. COMMARATO AEROSOL SPRAYER WITH A REPLACEABLE CARTRIDGE Filed Aug. 2, 1952 WW R 0 c Y m 3 N R A 0 w MW m A 6, H MB m 1 J United States Patent @flice AEROSOL SPRAYER WITH A REPLACEABLE CARTRIDGE Joseph Commarato, Mountain Lakes, N. J., assignor to Standard Container, Inc., Rockaway, N. 5., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 2, 1952, Serial No. 302,339 2 Claims. (Cl. 299-95 My invention relates to improvements in dispensers or sprayers of the aerosol type. It particularly relates to provision of a multi-service dispenser nozzle which can be cleaned and used in conjunction with a replaceable and separately vendible cartridge type spray container. Hence in one aspect, my invention provides a novel aerosol type combination dispenser unit comprising a nozzle and replaceable cartridge type container, and in another aspect it provides a novel nozzle unit and a novel spray container.

Dispensers of the aerosol type have developed a high degree of popularity and a tremendous range of utility in service. For example, dispensers of the aerosol type have been applied to spraying a Wide variety of solutions and vapors including insecticides, Inedicinals, perfumes and the like; they have been applied to surface coating with paint sprays and varnishes; and they have been applied to dispensing foam products such as whipped cream, cosmetics and the like. The propellant principles are simple, but the design of suitable valve means for the pressurized container and suitable spray nozzle means is difiicult and critical and is subject to very close toler- As a consequence, aerosol dispensers are con siderably more expensive than other types of competing hand sprayers. Also, because of the complexity of existing valve and nozzle designs, the typical aerosol dispenser is a single use or single service article since the nozzle and valve assembly cannot be readily disassembled by the average consumer for cleaning. Usually, the dispenser is sold as a one piece article which is discarded when empty. The difliculties and complexities of nozzle I design further increase the cost of aerosol dispensers to the consumer since the critical mechanisms operating under close tolerances are easily clogged, in which event much of the container contents wasted.

assembly if desired. The spray nozzle is readily cleaned and hence is a multi-service unit adapted to a wide range of spraying services. The nozzle and valve combination is non-clogging and non-leaking, hence providing full delivery of the fluid contents. The nozzle and valve combination provides a quick acting, effective seal with positive control over spray volume. At the same time,

The spray nozzle of my invention includes a nozzle base which may be a small plug containing a centrally bored passageway for liquid flow and to act as a guide way for a valve pin. The valve pin rides in the passageway and a nc-zzie cap containing the spray orifice is fitted over the nozzle base in a manner providing an expansion chamber communicating with the spray orifice and enclosing the head of the valve pin. Advantageously, the top of the nozzle base projects into the expansion chamber 2 and is sloped away from the outlet of the fluid passageway. A flexible button for applying pressure on the valve pin is ocated in the nozzle cap. The fluid container of my invention includes the essential cooperating valve means which cooperates with the valve pin of the nozzle. The container comprises a fluid-tight container shell including a cover plate. A cylindrical depression or cavity is provided in the cover plate with an orifice therein as a valve seat. An internal retainer cup is positioned over the inwardly depressed portion on the interior of the container shell so as to provide a space between the cartridge can be inserted.

My invention will be further described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

penser of a replaceable cartridge type.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a lower plan view of the dispenser of Fig. 1'. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a nozzle illustrating that aspect of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view in section through the valve assembly of a fluid container illustrating that aspect of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a separate fluid container of my invention.

In the dispenser combination of Fig; l, the primary elements are the external cover shell ltl'which may be 10 is of an elliptical or oval design, while the nozzle cap is cylindrical in outline. Groove 16 provides a spray passage across the curved top so that the nozzle 11 can be set low.

The nozzle assembly illustrated in Fig. 4 is in simplified four-piece form. Bymodifying the construction and design of the component parts or by constructing the nozzle of plastic material in a molding operation, the. number of components may be reduced or combined into a single multi-functional element. In the arrangement illustrated, the nozzle comprises a nozzle base 18, an upper portion of which 19 is threaded to engage with the nozzle cap 20. The lower portion of the nozzle base 18 is elongated to mate with the depressed portion 21 of the container cover plate 27 (see Fig. The lower portion of the nozzle base 18 is conically shaped as indicated at 22 to provide a better sealing surface when joined to the conical bottom of cover plate depression 21. Also as shown in Fig. 1 a molded rubber piece 28 is provided as a seal. The outer face 29 of shoulder 26 on nozzle base 18 may be knurled or threaded to provide attachment means to the cover aperture of cover shell 10. Nozzle base 18 as shown is also equipped with a shoulder portion 26 which may provide a sealing face in attachment to cover shell it of the dispenser.

The nozzle base 18 is centrally bored to provide a passageway 24 for egress of fluid from the container 12 and to function as a guide-way for valve pin 25. Advautageously, the nozzle base 18 includes a projection 18a for entry into the nozzle expansion chamber. The expansion chamber 30 into which fluid from container 12 can flow through passageway 24 is provided by nozzle cap when it is threaded onto nozzle base 18. The downwardly sloped top of projection 18a is valuable in preventing after spray. Orifice 31 is provided in nozzle cap 20 as a spray outlet. Flexible button 32 is located in the top of nozzle cap 20 to permit depression of valve pin by manual pressure. A rubber O-ring 33 is provided between the inner shoulder of nozzle cap 20 and the upper face of threaded portion 19 on nozzle base 13 in order to prevent accumulation of spray material in the threads.

The construction of the fluid container as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 includes cover plate 27 of container shell 12. The depressed portion 21 in cover plate 27 of container shell 12 provides a valve seat through orifice 34 in the conically shaped lower portion 35. Flexible rubber ball 38 is situated in sealing relation below orifice 34. The ball valve 38 is held in place by retainer cup 37 which advantageously has a cone-shaped bottom terminating in central depression 36 which serves to center ball 38 against orifice 34. Although the fit may be such that ball valve 38 is loosely held in place by pressure of retaining cup 37, it is preferable to precompress the ball in position so that it is pressed into sealing engagement with the orifice 34 by retainer cup 37 rather than by relying upon the fluid pressure from the contents of container 12. Leakage through the valve assemp the cartridge container bly as the internal pressure drops is eliminated thereby. I

Standpipe 39 opening into the space between the conical bottom 35 of the cover plate depression 21 and retainer cup 37 provides an exit passageway for the fluid contents of container 12 to nozzle 11 controlled by valve pin 25 and ball Valve 38. The cover plate tageously dome-shaped to provide pressure strength and to improve pressure distribution.

In construction detail, the valve seat is located in a depressed portion of the cover plate rather than at surface level or in an upwardly displaced portion in order to provide a receptacle or socket into which the spray nozzle can be inserted, promoting adequate sealing. The container shell may be of seamless construction formed by drawing, or may be formed with a fluid-tight seam. The retainer cup is advantageously fixed in place over the depressed portion 21 by a friction fit. The retainer cup may be formed as a simple cylinder with the valve centering portion pressed in rather than with a conical bottom. The standpipe tube may project slightly into the free space around the ball valve in order to prevent its lateral displacement and isconveniently soldered in depressed portion 27 is advanposition. The ball valve is of rubber or other flexible material.

The operation of the dispenser depends upon the differential pressure between the head space over the liquid contents of container 12 and the atmospheric pressure. The pressure differential is provided by dissolving or dispersing the material to be dispensed in a Freon type propellent, i. e. a fluorinated hydrocarbon or chlorohydrocarbon. The operation is actuated and controlled by depressing ball valve 38 by means of pin 25 under pressure imposed on flexible button 32. Although I prefer to employ a flexible button built into the nozzle cap for ease of seal, other depressable means for actuating the valve pin 25 may be employed. Where the cap is of molded plastic construction, the plastic itself may be sufliciently flexible to permit direct depression of the pin. The action of the valve is facilitated by properly relating the size of orifice 34 to ball valve 38 so that depression of the ball by action of pin 25 occurs rather than mere denting of the ball surface.

The design clearance between the pin and passageway meters the liquid flowing through the valve assembly into expansion chamber 30. The size of orifice 31 in conjunction with the size and design of expansion chamber 30 controls the nature of the spray discharge. One of the advantages of the nozzle and valve design of my invention is that positive response to the pressure of the finger is provided giving variability in the size of spray discharge in contrast to spring actuating valve mechanisms which are essentially single position; i. e. either open or shut, in operation.

The susceptibility of the nozzle of my invention to ready cleaning and its freedom from clogging are readily apparent. The simplicity of construction contributing to low cost and marketing flexibility also may be seen. The separability of the nozzle and fluid container valve structure permits use of the dispenser in the form of a combination providing a permanent type cover case and nozzle to be used with replaceable cartridge type fillers for any desired spraying service. Since the nozzle cap is readily removed and replaced, several caps of different orifice design and hence spray pattern may be provided for the same dispenser. The simplicity of the nozzle assembly however permitting low cost construction also results in provision of an all-in-one disposable sprayer consisting of nozzle and fluid container which may be sold as a unit and disposed of when empty. Moreover,

and valve assembly may be employed in conjunction with other valve depressing means for a varietyof dispensing functions.

I claim:

1. An aerosol dispenser which consists of a container shell, a fluid-tight cover plate for the container shell, a in the cover plate having an orifice therein, an internal retainer cup positioned over the depressed portion, a compressible ball held by the retainer cup in sealing relation with the orifice, a tube for fluid flow between the retainer cup and the interior of the container shell, a nozzle base having a centrally bored passageway therein, said base being fixed in sealing relationship Within the depressed portion of the cover plate with the passageway aligned with the orifice, a valve pin riding in the passageway, a nozzle cap including an expansion chamber in communicating relationship with the passageway, a spray orifice in the cap communicating with the expansion chamber and a depressible means in the cap for actuating the valve pin.

2. An aerosol dispenser which comprises an outer casing, a spray nozzle carried by the casing, said nozzle including a nozzle base having a centrally bored passageway therein, a valve pin riding in the passageway, a nozzle cap including an expansion chamber in communicating relationship with the passageway, a spray orifice in the cap communicating with the expansion chamber, a cartridge type fluid container inserted within the outer casing having valve means associated in alignment and sealing engagement with the nozzle passageway, said fluid container including a fluid-tight cover plate, a depressed portion in the cover plate having an orifice therein, an internal retainer cup positioned over the depressed portion, a compressible ball held by the retainer cup in sealing relation with the orifice, a tube between the retainer cup and the interior of the container, and means cooperating with the outer casing for locking the cartridge References Cited in the file of this patent type container in alignment and sealing engagement with 10 2624623 the nozzle.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Deck Dec. 21, Mapes June 5, Tear Dec. 8, Watson June 3, Williams Oct. 26, Henchert Dec. 30, Saacke J an. 6, 

